Prophecy: Caelestis and Aurorea [A Vampires Realm Novel]

by F. E. Heaton

  When he looked at her, she smiled briefly before her gaze dropped to the floor and then moved across to the bag that Valentine was carrying. They had taken everything they had thought was necessary from Mathias’ house, including the journal and the two parts of the scroll. Venturi had busied himself with it during their journey. She mused that it had been a clever tactic and a perfect way of avoiding having to make pleasant conversation. She was sure that he would have been quite happy to pass the hours talking to her about his life and the things that she had done in her short one, but Valentine had stayed so close to her that if he had, things would have kicked off again between them.

  She didn't want that, not when she was enjoying the current bout of silent treatment they were giving each other. She preferred it to the bickering and the childishness.

  She smiled to herself. Hopefully this would be the start of them getting along better.

  She looked at them both, praying they didn't contradict what she'd just said by saying something snide to each other. When they both remained silent, her gaze wandered the buildings that towered above her. They were nearing the river now. She could smell its earthy richness and could feel the cooler air that came off it, making the warm night feel chilly.

  It wasn't far now to her family's mansion. They would be there in less than quarter of an hour. She didn't know what to expect when she got there, but she hoped that her worst fears wouldn't be realised. It was impossible for Arkalus to kill Serenity, but he could order the guards to.

  Valentine looked at Prophecy while he turned down the road that would take them along the riverfront towards the house of Caelestis. She looked troubled. Her eyes were dark while she stared into the distance. He knew what she was thinking. There was no way that she could hide the source of her fear from him. He wished he could tell her that her friend was safe, but he couldn't, all he could do was hope for her sake that she was. Losing Serenity would be a great blow to her, and although it would fuel her in the fight against Arkalus, it was something that would take away from her strength in the end.

  He glanced at Venturi, glad to see that the Tenebrae wasn't looking at Prophecy. Venturi seemed more concerned with the world around him, but he knew that it wasn't wholly true. He wasn't the only one that had picked up on Prophecy's feelings. The Tenebrae would be wary of looking at her, but he would know exactly how she was feeling and how she looked. Valentine didn't need to see Prophecy's face to know that she was upset. A simple focusing of his senses on her told him that she wasn't happy. She was scared. He could feel it in how tightly she was holding his hand.

  Keeping his senses locked on her, his eyes settled on the water. The lights along the bank made it twinkle and he watched the boats full of tourists as they went downstream. In the distance on the hill, he could see the cathedral. It was lit up beautifully, as was the old gateway at the end of the Charles Bridge.

  It felt like years since he'd been back here, and his old life felt as though it was a million miles away, some distant memory. He sighed, trying not to think about the life he'd left behind in order to go with Prophecy. He was glad that he hadn't fulfilled his orders and murdered her that night. He didn't want to think of what the world would be like now if he had executed her, or where she would be if he'd left her in Oxford like he'd planned to.

  He frowned hard when he thought about the position he'd held for all those years and how loyal he'd been to his family. He'd spent centuries in faithful service, a proud and devoted Aurorea, an honoured hunter. He'd given it up so easily, had turned his back on everything he knew in one night and walked away from it, but it had been hard on him.

  In his heart, he was still the hunter he had been back then, he was still loyal to his family, but he was loyal to another too now. Where Kalinor had demanded his devotion, Prophecy hadn't asked for it. Yet his heart had given itself to her without question and he had felt less pained about his sacrifice when he had realised what he had gained in return. She was everything he had secretly yearned for throughout his years as a hunter. Lucya had left him a broken man, but Prophecy had fixed him again and shown him that his family hadn't made him who he was, he had been that man all along.

  "Are you okay?” Her voice stole into his thoughts and he looked at her, trying not to let her see his mixed emotions but knowing he'd failed when she stopped walking. Her expression became one of deep concern. “What's wrong?"

  He turned away, not from her, but from Venturi. The last thing he needed was the Tenebrae seeing how much being back in Prague affected him. He folded his arms across his chest and stared across the water at the cathedral.

  She moved around him, taking hold of his arms and forcing him to uncross them. He didn't stop her when she placed them around her shoulders and wrapped her arms about his waist. Her head came to rest against his chest and he closed his eyes, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

  When she pulled back and looked up at him, he managed a smile.

  "I am fine. There is nothing to worry about.” He ran his fingers across her cheek and then trailed them down her neck. He brushed them against the still healing marks there and remembered the night he'd made them. Running them further down, he looked at the star she wore around her neck and then at the symbol on her chest.

  When he looked back up, he found her dark eyes were fixed on his fingers where they were resting against her chest.

  She met his gaze, concern visible in hers. He gave her another slight smile, letting her see that what he'd said was true. He was fine now. There was no point in holding onto the past when the future was so uncertain. It was better that he concentrate on making it through this and helping Prophecy survive what lay ahead of her. Once this was all said and done, he was going to tell her those words she'd stopped him from saying, and he was going to keep the promise he'd made to her. He'd never let her grow old or die.

  * * * *

  Prophecy stared down at the house. She shrank back into the shadows when a couple of guards passed by barely a few metres from her. It would be easy for them to sense the presence of her, Valentine and Venturi if they were really concentrating, but they seemed to be more concerned with talking.

  She didn't pay attention to their conversation. Her gaze roamed back to the house and the main gate.

  There were twice as many guards as she remembered.

  Was it because of her that Arkalus had posted more guards, or did he fear Kalinor?

  "What happened in Russia?” she said to Valentine and saw the pain surface in his eyes when he remembered. She placed her hand over his and moved back along the hill with him, heading farther into the undergrowth. Her voice lowered to a whisper. “No, not that ... I know what happened then. I just ... how is it Arkalus is still alive? Doesn't Kalinor know what he did?"

  "He does. I told him. I had to lessen the trust between them so Kalinor would go easier on me. He is only alive because Kalinor has a use for him. Once that use disappears, he will kill Arkalus for what he has done,” he said.

  She believed him.

  It must have taken a lot of convincing by Arkalus for Kalinor not to kill him.

  What had he promised him? Had Arkalus told Kalinor that he would bring her to him? Surely that was the only thing that would have any bargaining power.

  She froze when she heard a voice and listened hard. Her chest tightened and she looked at Valentine.

  "Serenity,” she said and hurried through the woods that lined the hill outside the mansion walls.

  Through the trees, she could see her aide. She waited until they were far enough away from the gates not to be noticed and then made her way down to the road. She caught hold of Serenity's arm, placing her hand over her mouth to silence her while she dragged her into the woods.

  Turning her friend to face her, the smile fled her lips when she saw the dark bruise surrounding her eye. She released her friend's mouth and her stomach dropped when she revealed the fact that Serenity's lower lip was cut and swollen.

  "What happen
ed?” she said.

  "What are you doing here?” Serenity whispered and cast a fearful look around them. “They'll kill you if they find you. Arkalus has ordered his guards to show you no mercy. The lord of Aurorea wants you dead and if Arkalus doesn't do it, then he dies."

  She looked at her friend, completely unaffected by what she'd just said. Of course Kalinor wanted her dead, but she knew Arkalus. He wouldn't kill her, not even if the Devil himself commanded it.

  "What happened?” She repeated her question. “Answer me. It was Arkalus wasn't it? I knew I shouldn't have left you."

  "You had to. I offered to take your place remember? I am fine, really.” Serenity toyed with her hair and Prophecy frowned when she noticed that she was trying to cover her neck.

  "I'm so sorry,” she said and lowered her head when guilt swept through her. “I should have stayed and faced him."

  "He would have killed you. You had to leave and I was happy to help you. He would have made you miserable. You had to escape and find your..."

  Prophecy frowned when Serenity trailed off. Her friend was looking over her shoulder. She looked there also and smiled at Valentine. He seemed shocked to see the two of them together and she wondered just how alike they looked to him.

  "You're as handsome as Prophecy said you were,” Serenity said.

  Prophecy glared at her, not finding it as amusing as her friend did.

  Valentine gave Prophecy an awkward look and she smiled slightly.

  "Who is your friend?” Serenity looked past Valentine.

  Prophecy leaned to one side and saw Venturi standing a few feet behind Valentine. She beckoned him closer and ignored the black look that Valentine gave him.

  "Valentine of Aurorea, my aide and friend, Serenity.” She introduced them and was surprised when Valentine extended his hand and pressed a kiss to Serenity's when she placed hers into it. He was either doing it to make her happy, or his hatred of all Caelestis vampires was fading.

  "It's a pleasure,” Serenity said with a shy look.

  Prophecy raised a brow, her insides twisting with jealousy when Valentine smiled. She knew he didn't have the slightest interest in her friend, but it still didn't stop her from feeling irked by his gesture. She growled quietly but not quiet enough that Valentine didn't hear her. He looked at her while letting go of Serenity's hand, his eyes full of confusion. She turned away from him and smiled at Venturi.

  Valentine growled.

  Not looking at him, she held her arm out and presented Venturi to Serenity in a way that would annoy Valentine the most.

  "This is Venturi, lord of Tenebrae and my sworn protector."

  He bowed and looked up at Serenity. “The pleasure is all mine."

  Valentine gave Prophecy a dark look when she met his eyes. She raised her brows, acting as though she didn't have a clue about what had upset him.

  "Is your lord at home?” Valentine said directly to Serenity.

  The way he openly ignored her made Prophecy frown. She resisted the desire to talk to Venturi to make Valentine jealous, or mention that Arkalus had tried to claim her the last time they were here.

  When Valentine glanced at her, she gave him a hurt look and it hit its mark with deadly accuracy, causing his brows to knit and a sorry look to surface in his eyes. He walked across to her, his arm snaking around her waist when he moved around and came to stand behind her.

  "He is home,” Serenity said with a glance over her shoulder at the mansion.

  "Does he still take walks in the garden?” Prophecy said.

  "Yes, each evening without fail. He says that it gives him time to think."

  "Good,” she said and stepped closer to her friend. “I need to ask you to do something for me."

  "Anything. I will happily do whatever it takes to help you, Prophecy."

  She looked into her friend's dark eyes. The sight of the bruise underneath one of them made her stomach turn and anger boiled up inside of her. She couldn't believe that Arkalus would be so cruel as to hurt her friend like this. She didn't want to see what marks and bruises were hidden beneath Serenity's hair or her clothes. She felt terrible enough already without being confronted by the full extent of Arkalus’ cruelty.

  "I need the dress.” She held her friend's gaze.

  "Dress?"

  "The one...” She stumbled on the words, her focus automatically moving to Valentine and the place where his hand was resting against her hip. “The one he wanted me to wear that night. You still have it?"

  Valentine's fingers tightened against her. She closed her eyes briefly and then placed her hand over his, silently comforting him.

  "Of course. Why?"

  "It's a vital part of my plan. Can you leave it outside the east gate tomorrow evening?"

  "By the Devil, you're going to fight him!” Serenity's eyes widened, her voice rising.

  "I'm sorry. I know your feelings for him, but it has to be done.” She watched her friend shaking her head as though she was refusing to believe what she was hearing. “He must be stopped. By killing him I will free you of his cruelty and our family of his reign."

  "I still love him, regardless of the things he does to me,” Serenity said with a solemn air and sighed. “But I know that what you do is right. He has not led the family well, and many wish to see him fall, but none are brave enough to take his life."

  "It is not a way to gain leadership,” Venturi said and Prophecy looked at him. “You know my feelings on this matter ... but if the man has become a tyrant, he must be stopped."

  She nodded. She knew that Venturi didn't approve of in-house killing for the sake of power alone. She didn't want power. She just wanted one less person hunting her, and her family to be free of his reign.

  She looked back at Serenity and caught a glimpse of the scabs on her throat when she swept her hair out of her face.

  "I can heal those for you,” she said and stepped towards her friend.

  Serenity shook her head. “He will know you are here. They don't hurt, not any more. In a few days, they'll be gone."

  Prophecy smiled and pulled her friend into a hug. Holding her tightly, she closed her eyes and sighed.

  "I will free you ... you and all of my family.” She pulled back and held Serenity at arms length. “Tomorrow evening. Don't fail me."

  Serenity smiled but Prophecy could see the hurt in her eyes. She knew that her friend was torn between helping her and protecting the man she was in love with. She just hoped that when the time came, Serenity would side with her instead of Arkalus and would bring her the dress.

  "I won't. Be careful,” Serenity said and then turned to Valentine and Venturi. “Take care of her. Please?"

  They both nodded and Prophecy watched her friend slip silently through the trees. She looked at the guards, checking that they weren't facing this direction, and by the time she looked back, Serenity was gone.

  She sighed.

  Valentine wrapped his arms about her and she leaned her back into his chest.

  This wasn't going to be easy but it had to be done.

  Tomorrow night she would kill Arkalus.

  She would set her family free.

  Chapter 24

  Valentine followed Prophecy through the woods. He kept his eyes fixed on her back, not wanting to think about what her plan entailed. She wasn't telling him everything and he suspected that it was with good reason. If she was going to do what he thought she was, then he would have stopped her had she admitted it.

  He had spent an hour back at his apartment attempting to persuade her that he should accompany her and in the end he'd resorted to telling her that he was coming whether she liked it or not. She needed back up. If she got into trouble, he was going to step in and kill Arkalus for her. Her position as the Chosen Daughter of her house meant that it didn't matter which of them did the deed. If he killed Arkalus, the family passed to her. If she killed Arkalus, the outcome was the same.

  When he'd insisted on coming with her, Venturi had attempted
to do the same. Valentine was pleased that she had told him he had to stay behind and work on translating the scrolls. The sour look on the Tenebrae's face had made his night and made the thought of what Prophecy was going to do a little more bearable, at least for a short while.

  Now he was against it again.

  He frowned when she stopped beside a rickety wooden gate. There, laid over a low branch of a tree, was a red dress. He growled at the sight of it. Prophecy turned to look at him.

  "It will throw him off and make him easier to kill,” she said and picked up the dress. She held it out to him. “You came here to help."

  He took the dress and scowled at it. It was blood red and looked as though it was going to be rather revealing.

  His eyes widened when he realised that Prophecy was stripping off in front of him. He tried to stop his gaze from roaming over her body as she exposed it slowly to him, but he couldn't help himself. He growled and she looked at him, a smile teasing her lips and her eyes twinkling with mischief. She tossed her clothes to one side, leaving herself in just her underwear and boots. He frowned at her, desire sweeping through him when she stepped towards him.

  He held the dress to one side, letting her get close to him. She pressed her hands against his chest, her fingertips digging in a little. Her hips grazed his, sending his desire spiralling down to them. He slid one arm about her and cupped her backside, holding her against him.

  She gave him a wicked smile.

  "Temptress,” he whispered into her ear and smiled when she shuddered in his arms. He licked her earlobe and then coursed his lips downwards to her neck. She tilted her head to one side and mewled. He closed his eyes and gave her what she wanted, surprised that she was asking him to do such a thing when she was about to attempt to seduce Arkalus.

  He sank his teeth into her neck and her body jerked against his, her fingers tightening against his chest. The taste of her blood was divine, a sweet ambrosia that he would never get enough of. He sucked hard on the wound, letting his mouth fill with the rich liquid before swallowing it down.